Tuesday, February 4, 2014

January 30, 2014 - Goodbye America!

Wow. This week is flying by. Probably because I have so much to do and I
feel like I am running out of time! It was a great week though! We got
our travel plans last week! We leave the MTC at 4:30 on monday morning,
then our flight leaves SLC at 8:30. We fly to Detroit and land at 2:10.
Then we fly out of Detroit at 3:45 and then fly straight up and over to
Seoul. We are supposed to land at 7:35 pm (tuesday night) so the flight
will be pretty long. Sister Bagley and I are the travel leaders and we
are convinced that somehow we will lead our group to end up in Russia or
something. ha ha. I am excited and freaking out for Korea. ahhhhhh!

Ok Sunday was so
great. For Relief Society, Janice Kapp Perry came and spoke to us. She
spoke a little bit about the mission she served with her husband in
Chili. She also had a little medley of primary songs that she wanted us
to sing. It was so cool. There is something so powerful about hearing
all of the sister missionaries sing together. Sister Perry shared an
experience that happened to her after she was in a bad car accident. She
was at the hospital and they were about to do a test on her and she was
very nervous and panicking because she could barely breathe. She said a
prayer to Heavenly Father to help her. Suddenly these words came to
her: "Pray he is there. Speak He is listening. You are His child. His
love now surrounds you." She said there are times we just can't deal
with on our own. She said to say a little prayer and ask Heavenly Father
to bless you in some way. At the very end of her talk, we all sang a
song that she wrote. It is "As Sisters in Zion" but a version especially
for missionaries. We sang it with a soundtrack that she had and it was
incredible. The spirit was so strong. I can't even describe how it felt.
Everyone was in tears. The last verse was extra neat. I don't think I
have ever felt the Spirit so strong in my life. I wish I could capture
that little moment forever.

Sunday
night devotional was way cool. I think the speaker's name was Steven
Allen. He is over the missionary department under the direction of the
General Authorities. He got up and said that he tried preparing things
to talk about but he couldn't ever find something that he should talk
about that felt right. So he said he had nothing prepared and that he
was going to teach by the Spirit. He said to say a little prayer in your
heart if there is something you need to hear, and Heavenly Father will
prompt him with the things to say. So, I said a little prayer in my
heart. and he talked about exactly what I needed to hear. He talked
about how the adversary knows how to "push our buttons." and how we are
being made smooth through the Savior. Being made smooth causes a high
level of stress and strain. He talked about how we can deal with such
hard things and how we can find peace. We all sang Where can I turn for
Peace and then after, he talked about the words to that song and that we
can find peace through Jesus Christ. HE is the one you turn to for
peace. In the song, it says, "who, who can understand, He, only one." He
said Christ knows us and understands us better than we understand
ourselves. HE knows what we are thinking about, what we are worried
about. and what we are happy about. Then he talked about how we cast our
burden on the Lord. The same way we invite our investigators to.
Through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. If you need more peace,
pray more. Be worthy of peace. Repent. We sang the song Be still My
soul and he talked about being patient. He said one coping strategy when
you are having a hard time is to focus on others. Where can we turn for
peace? The Savior. He said, "some of your prayers are being answered
without you realizing it. He said stick out what you have been called to
do. Don't let satan push your buttons. Christ is proud to have you in
His army" Then we ended with singing Abide with me. It was such a good
devotional!! I am sad to leave the MTC because I love the devotionals
soooo much!

Mom and Dad, You are the best. Thank you so much for
the packages you sent me this week! I loved the valentines package! It
was the best suprise. And thanks for the treats and other cute things
you sent me. I love you so much! Thanks for all of the things you send
me to help me. Love you!!

Ellie- How is basketball? I hope your game is good today against Kaysville!! Love you tons!

Jane- Did you guys get my letters? I hope so. How is b-ball and violin? let me know! Love you!

Addie- I am glad you got my letter. Did you like the story about the blow up cat? haha how is ballet? I love you!!

Isaac- thanks for the
emails! You are classic. I think it is really neat that Jesus touched
the stones so the guys could see inside their boat. What are you reading
in the Book of Mormon now? I love you!!!

I love you all so so much! I will talk to you on monday morning! Have the best week! Love you!